Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse teenager who sent texts Thursday to family and friends saying that he had been abducted was charged today with falsely reporting an incident, a misdemeanor, Syracuse police said.

Bobby Loper Jr., of 230 Beecher St., was issued an appearance ticket and will answer the charge in Syracuse City Court at a later date.

Loper's family contacted police Thursday after they had received texts from the boy that he was kidnapped and in trouble.

Police began an "intense investigation and search" for Loper, Sgt. Tom Connellan said.

After about eight hours after police were contacted, Loper was found at a relative's house in the southeast section of the city, Connellan said.

The investigation showed that it was Loper who sent the texts, Connellan said.

Connellan said the public "was put at risk because police services were diverted from other areas of the city."